dentures Archives - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

Where Can I Apply for Free Dental Implants?

Posted on April 11, 2024 by AllSmiles.

I’m looking for ways to avoid getting dentures and getting dental implants even though I don’t have money for them. I’m wondering if I could apply for a program or join a waitlist for a dentist who does implants for people who can’t afford them. Or if a dental practice could use me in an ad or if there is a study or something that I can sign up for to get free dental implants. I’m a 40-year-old single dad who is on the verge of losing all my teeth from neglect. My kids have been through so much. I just want to smile for them without embarrassing myself or them. Where can I find free implants? – Thanks. Ethan from Chicago, IL

Ethan,

Your concerns are understandable since our teeth and smiles impact our self-confidence.

Can You Get Pro Bono or Free Dental Implants?

Although you won’t be able to find pro bono implants, we can explain ways to make treatment more affordable. The only way to get dental implants is to pay for them, even if it involves financing, payment plans, or less stability for your denture.

How Can You Get Affordable Dental Implants?

You can get affordable dental implants by attending a dental school or choosing an option, such as a snap-on denture or mini implants.

Dental school

A dental school that teaches implant dentistry needs patients for its students to place implants. Although treatment is free, the school will offer a discount for accepting treatment from a dental student.

Snap-on denture

A snap-on denture uses two implants to stabilize your denture. The denture is removable for you to clean and let your mouth rest at night. This option is less expensive than a fixed implant denture.

Mini implants

The diameter of mini implants is 1/3 that of standard implants. Not all dentists offer this option, but mini implants are more affordable than standard implants. Your dentures will not fall out, but they won’t be as secure as standard implants.

Getting treatment in phases

If you can afford dental implants in the future, you can get a quality denture now and get it fitted later for dental implants. Discuss this option with an implant dentist.

What If You Can’t Get Dental Implants?

If you investigate snap-on dentures or mini-implants and find that you still cannot afford them, consider charity dental clinics. Search online for free dental clinics in your city or charitable dentistry events. Although a dental clinic will not provide dental implants, it can provide a removable denture to replace your missing teeth and improve your quality of life. Getting a denture will help you feel more comfortable in public and allow you to smile without the embarrassment of missing teeth.

Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read details about how Dr. Delaune strives to provide some of the best dental care in Metairie. Ask Delaune Dental about financing to help pay for dental care.

Will My Face Sag If I Don’t Get Dental Implants?

Posted on August 29, 2022 by AllSmiles.

Upper implant denture

At 44 years old, a severe calcium deficiency has left me with 18 teeth that my dentist says must be extracted, and he recommends dentures. I have two teenagers and prefer not to look like their grandmother after I get dentures. Are implants the only way to maintain my face shape? Thank you. Brienne from Dallas, TX

Brienne,

Thank you for contacting our office. Did your dentist explain why he recommends removing your teeth and replacing them with a denture? Sometimes, tooth removal is less challenging than saving them, and a dentist may not have the skill level or understanding to restore your teeth. Dr. Delaune would need to examine and x-ray your teeth to explain your options and develop a treatment plan.

Does Calcium Deficiency Affect Adult Teeth?

A calcium deficiency can result in various signs and symptoms, including:

abnormal heartbeat
extreme fatigue
muscle cramping
nail changes
numbness and tingling in your fingertips
osteoporosis
poor appetite

Calcium hydroxyapatite is essential for developing and maintaining bones and tooth enamel. According to the American Dental Association, teeth benefit from a healthy lifestyle, including a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium. Frequent snacking and a high-sugar diet promote tooth decay.

How Will Dentures Affect Your Facial Appearance?

If a dentist or an oral surgeon must extract your teeth, your jawbone will shrink if you wear removable dentures. The shrinkage will affect your appearance in ten to twenty years because you lack enough bone to support your facial muscles. Also, you will be unable to retain a removable denture.

Dental implants are the healthiest, most effective solution for replacing missing teeth. Implants have these benefits:

Stimulate the jawbone
prevent shrinkage
Help prevent premature facial sagging

Implant-supported dentures will be stable and improve denture function and fit. Immediate implant placement can halt bone shrinkage and prevent the need for future bone grafting. In many cases, an implant dentist or an oral surgeon will remove unsavable teeth and immediately replace them with dental implants.

We recommend getting a second opinion from a dentist with advanced implant training to determine whether they can save your teeth or if you require extractions and implants.

Metairie, Louisiana dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post.

My New Dentures Still Affect My Speech After Four Months

Posted on July 21, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I have new dentures (upper and lower), and after four months, I still can’t speak correctly. It feels like the teeth are in the way, and it sounds like I have a speech impediment. I am not retired yet, and I speak to clients daily. Unfortunately, I must repeat my words throughout the day to many clients. It is frustrating.

My dentist says the speech issue is a normal part of the adjustment period and I will adjust. I’ve had the dentures since early March. Am I still within the adjustment period, or is something wrong with the dentures? – Curtis from Knoxville, TN

Curtis,

Thank you for your question.

How Long Do Dentures Affect Your Speech?

When you get new dentures, they affect your speech for several weeks. It takes time to adjust to eating and speaking with dentures. Speaking slowly can help you adjust, but your speech should gradually improve. If you have had your dentures since March, your comfort in speaking with them should have improved if they fit correctly.

Improving Your Speech with Dentures

If you continue to have difficulty eating or speaking with dentures, it is possible that your dentist made mistakes when taking impressions of your mouth or took shortcuts in fitting your dentures. The placement of the denture teeth can also affect your speech. If your dentures affect your speech for months, your dentist must examine them to identify the cause.

Soft liners can make the dentures fit more comfortably and make it easier to speak. We suggest allowing your dentist to refit your dentures. If your dentist cannot correct them, schedule an appointment with a skilled cosmetic dentist.

Stabilizing Your Dentures with Implants

At least two dental implants per denture will help them fit better. A cosmetic dentist can explain how dental implants can stabilize your dentures and help them feel more like natural teeth. Implants improve denture function and your quality of life.

Dr. Duane Delaune, a Metairie, Louisiana cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Dental Implants after Dentures

Posted on February 22, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’ve had dentures for about 12 years and can finally afford dental implants. Have I waited too long or is it still possible?

Beatrice

Dear Beatrice,

The answer to your question is yes. However, there is a “but”. When your teeth were first removed, your body, in an effort to use its resources as efficiently as possible, resorbs the minerals in your jawbone. It does this because, without teeth, it doesn’t think you need the bone any longer.

This has the unfortunate effect of shrinking your jawbone. In dental terms, it is called facial collapse. The amount of time you’ve worn dentures is enough to allow facial collapse to set in.

Dental implants require you have enough bone structure to retain the root form. There are two ways around this:

The first thing you could do is have the bone grafting done in order to build the bone back up. This is an outpatient procedure .

A second option is with All-on-Four Dental Implants. This is for patients who have only lost some bone and are looking for a way around bone grafting.

illustration of the position for all-on-4 dental implants — All-on-4 Dental implants

Using shorter implants and angling them, can help your dental implants to stay on. This has helped quite a few patients get dental implants that wouldn’t otherwise. However, not as many dentists know how to do the procedure.

Your best bet is to meet with a skilled implant dentist. Look at Dr. Delaune’s qualifications to see what type of dentist you will need to do this well for you, regardless of which procedure you choose.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

medical insurance & dental implants

Posted on January 14, 2020 by writeradmin.

I had to remove all my upper teeth due to extensive gum disease and decay. I’ve gotten the gum disease back under control, though it cost me a small fortune. I’ve been trying traditional dentures, but that dental plate has made things impossible for me. I have too strong a gag reflex to even keep it in. This has made eating almost impossible. I’ve already lost ten pounds and I’m not a big woman to begin with. My dentist suggested I get implant dentures. Is it possible to get medical insurance to pay for this because I can’t eat? I would think that would count as a health issue. My dentist didn’t think it would.

Beth

Dear Beth,

upper implant overdentures — Implant overdentures

Implant overdentures will be a great solution for someone in your position. The extra hardware in your mouth which comes along with traditional dentures is a problem for most people.

Using dental implants to support them, not only makes them more secure, it also removes all the extra material over your palette which causes so many gagging problems. Not to mention the food that can get under there.

Medical Insurance for Dental Implants

Unfortunately, your dentist was right. It is highly unlikely medical insurance with cover you getting the dental implants you need. This is a shame because it does have a negative impact on your health when you can’t eat and get the nutrition you need.

Most medical insurance comes with a dental exclusion clause. There is sometimes an exception where if you had a car accident and lost your teeth. Then, it COULD be covered through the medical portion of your car insurance.

Affording Dental Implants

There are a few ways to make this more affordable. First, you should know you don’t have to pay for the entire procedure at once. Instead, you pay for the implant portion before that is done. Then there is a period of healing, which also allows for osseointegration. When that is completed, it is time for the denture portion. That is when you’ll pay for the second half.

Even then, things can be broken up for you. Many dentists work with a company called “Care Credit“. This is a medical credit card of sorts which will pay for your procedure and then allow you to pay them back.

The interest is much lower than traditional credit cards. If you have good credit, you can even get a zero-interest payment plan. I would talk to your dentist. Their business office can usually find options for you.

If they’re not willing to show you options, then this isn’t the best dentist for you. Find a better dentist. One who is more compassionate.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Are dental implants possible for me?

Posted on January 6, 2020 by writeradmin.

I haven’t been able to afford dental care for years. Now, I finally have dental insurance. Because of advanced periodontal disease, I’ve lost several teeth. Is it possible for me to get dental implants instead of dentures?

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

Abutment and crown being placed on dental implants

Dental implants are the best tooth-replacement option you can get, while dentures have many problems that come with them. For instance, even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. However, that’s not the worst part.

Your body recognizes when your teeth are gone. In an effort to be as efficient as possible with its resources, it begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. This begins to shrink your jawbone. After about ten years, it becomes difficult to even keep your dentures in. This is known as facial collapse.

Getting dental implants prevents that because the implants serve as prosthetic teeth roots. Your body recognizes their presence and leaves the jawbone intact.

Gum Disease and Dental Implants

You will need to deal with your gum disease to be a good candidate for dental implants. Periodontal disease leads to bone loss, which may have been a contributing factor in your losing teeth.

Your dentist can help you get that under control. Once that is, you want to find a well-trained implant dentist. They need post-doctoral training in the procedure. You can look at Dr. Delaune’s credentials to get an idea of the type of dentist you want to find in your area.

He should run diagnostic tests, including a CT scan to make sure you have adequate bone and to plan the ideal positioning of the dental implants. Don’t be discouraged if you’ve lost too much bone. There is a procedure to repair that. You can have bone grafting done to restore the missing bone. Then you’ll be good to go on your implants.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

can I get a beautiful smile after 3o years of Dentures?

Posted on August 24, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’ve had dentures for about thirty years. Back then, I don’t think dental implants were available. If they were, my dentist should have told me about them. I have a friend who has them and her smile looks so much better than mine. I’d love to get a beautiful smile now if that is possible.

I’m going to give you the great news first and then tell you how to make it come to pass. You can absolutely get a beautiful smile again. I’m going to tell you something which may sadden you, but I want you to understand it for the smile you’re going to get with dental implants.

You could have had a beautiful smile with dentures as well. The beauty of the smile doesn’t depend on whether you have crowns for dental implants or dentures. What makes the biggest difference is the artistic skill of the dentist.

Implants After Dentures

When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes that and begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources.

This has the unfortunate effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. This is known as facial collapse. Eventually, there won’t be enough jawbone left for you to retain your dentures at all, leaving you a denture cripple.

This creates a problem for dental implants too. As you can see from the image above, when an implant is placed, it requires the bone in your jawbone to integrate with it in order to retain the implant securely.

After 30 years, you will probably require a bone grafting procedure in order to have enough bone to secure them. This is an outpatient procedure. Then, when you’ve had time to heal, it will be time to get your implants then.

Getting a Beautiful Smile

As I mentioned above, getting a beautiful smile requires a skilled, artistic dentist. My suggestion is for you to look on the mynewsmile.com website. This is run by an accredited cosmetic dentist. He screens each dentist who wants to be listed on their site for both technical knowledge and training, as well as an artistic eye and hand. Any one of them can give you a gorgeous smile.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Do I see a general dentist or oral surgeon first for dentures?

Posted on April 30, 2015 by smiles4u.

I have had a fear of the dentist all my life. It all stems from one bad experience as a kid. I just turned 52 and most of my teeth are broken or missing and it really affects my quality of life because I am so embarrassed by them. I want a confident smile back so I think I want to get dentures. Do I need to see a dentist or an oral surgeon to remove the rest of my teeth? — Michael

Michael,
Find a dentist who can do the extractions, surgery and dentures. There are typically dentists out there who do all three so it’s just a matter of calling and asking a particular dentist what he or she usually does. You’ll also want to address your dental fear and find a dentist who also offers sedation. You’ll take a pill that will enable you to have “amnesia” or a state of sleep during the entire procedure.

There is a certain amount of coordination that is needed between the surgery and the denture – particularly if you choose to get an immediate denture which is placed the same day. If you go the traditional denture route, there are still certain things a dentist can do during surgery that will help your dentures fit better and an oral surgeon would not be as familiar with that.

If you do decide to have an oral surgeon take out the teeth, go to your dentist first so that he can coordinate the procedures.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.